The Big Ten Looking To Become Even More Mathematically Challenged
So, as you may have read somewhere on the Internet yesterday, the Big Ten isn’t just floating around the idea of expanding from 11 to 12 teams: it’s apparently moving the issue to the “front burner.”
So why? Teddy Greenstein has the answers:
The biggest reason, as always, is the stuff that doesn’t grow on trees: money. If the league expands to 12 teams and two divisions — like the SEC, Big 12 and ACC — it would create a Big Ten title game that could be worth $5 million or more to the league. The Big Ten Network would love to televise it, and the conference has a 51 percent ownership stake in the network.
Ah yes: money. It’s always about money. I’ll admit that I’m a bit of a Big Ten traditionalist so I’m not 100 percent on board here, but all things told, this makes sense: it evens out the conference so it can be split into two divisions, and then the two champs of each division can play in a Big Ten title game, and the league can get a little more buzz and exposure and money at the end of the season. Then each team can go get crushed in a bowl game like always.
So what teams are we looking at here? Greenstein throws out that “Paterno has mentioned Rutgers, Syracuse and Pittsburgh. Rutgers would give the league an ‘in’ to the New York TV market. Missouri has been rumored forever. Cincinnati and Louisville might be considered.”
Again, the traditionalist in me here would prefer a team that’s located in the middle of this fine country, so Missouri — which would be the best choice, I think — Cincinnati and Louisville could be fun.
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